ACU welcomes federal reforms

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

The Gillard Government’s new policy for teacher training is a welcome commitment to ensuring quality Australian teachers.

Australian Catholic University (ACU) welcomes the teacher education policy announced today by the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills Science and Research Hon Chris Bowen MP and the Minister for School Education Hon Peter Garrett, AM, MP.

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said he was pleased with the “sensible, consultative and far sighted approach that the Gillard Government has taken”.

“Australia needs a national approach to teacher education. As Australia’s only national university we are particularly pleased to see that the Commonwealth Government is using its power to cover the field of teacher education,” he said.

“A national approach to teacher education means school students from Bondi to Broome and from Cairns to Cygnet will have access to wonderful teachers who know their subject matter and understand how their students learn.”’

“This can only be achieved with a national approach.”

ACU has the largest education faculty in Australia and Professor Craven said the University was committed to providing teaching graduates of the highest quality.

“The Gillard Government’s proposals recognise that there is more to creating outstanding teachers than their entry score.”

ACU also welcomes the role Universities Australia will play in creating a more integrated approach to assessing teacher quality.

“Australian universities have been recruiting, assessing and producing teachers for 150 years. We have a great deal of expertise that can be harnessed to ensure the performance of Australian school students returns to the top of the international rankings,” Professor Craven said.